The Restory Retreat Centre

  Growing Older The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Annie Dillard's advice on writing is also applicable to life in general.  Music May the wisdom that comes with age, help you to do Mary Oliver's 3 things. All our love. George & Matilda

  Ouer Word Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Annie Dillard se raad t.o.v skryf is ook van toepassing op die lewe in die algemeen. Musiek Mag die wysheid wat met die jare kom, jou help om Mary Oliver se 3 dinge te doen. Al ons liefde. George & Matilda

Meditation Practice The Conversation Elements From The Conversation May you experience the abundance and the presence of Christ when you become still. With love. George & Matilda  

  Meditasie-praktyk Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Mag julle die oorvloed en die teenwoordigheid van Christus ervaar wanneer julle stil word. Met liefde. George & Matilda

Photograph by Liz Burroughs taken at a Restory Contemplative Photography retreat On a recent visit to the island Lamu off the coast of Kenya, our friend Lizzie bought herself a beautiful ethnic bracelet. She constantly wears it. It is her reminder of an approach to life she often came across while being on Lamu that is captured in the word “polepole”. In Swahili it means " slowly, gently, softly, quietly; be calm, take it quietly, don't excite yourself, never mind ". For instance, on stepping off the pier into a dau, one of the traditional wooden sailing boats, the guide would say, “polepole” – “slowly, gently, don’t excite yourself”. Now, whenever she has a hectic day  at the office, or she’s in a stressful meeting she would look down on her bracelet, gently reminding her, “polepole”. I don’t know whether Pablo Neruda was familiar with Lizzie’s Swahili word, but he would have loved the idea behind her bracelet: KEEPING QUIET Now we will count to twelve and ...

As if you were on fire from within. The moon lives in the lining of your skin.                                                                            Pablo Neruda “Cold weather we’re having, isn’t it?” She asked me while writing out the invoice for the steel I had just purchased. The small office was crammed with boxes and pieces that awaited collection. A dirty poster against the wall showed the components of lorry suspensions. “Yes” I said “and apparently the worst is yet to come over this weekend.” Without looking up she said: “Fortunately we leave earlier on a Friday afternoon. I told my husband this morning, ‘This is ideal soup weather.’ On my way home I am going to buy soup meat, so I can make us some this evening. But first I have another appointment.” The way s...